BRENGEN & HALEN / DEN HELDER 2018/19
How can you make a work of art about fishing without feeling what it means to be a fisherman? By sailing along!! A rather unusual question, but skipper Henk Bais of the HD3 agrees. Artists Machteld Aardse and Femke Kempkes are allowed on board. While drawing, they make a report of life on board. From the rhythm of pulling and fetching, sleeping and eating. An unforgettable experience for both the ladies and the men on board.
The drawings and photo’s made on board provide a unique account of life on board. In addition to photos from archive material, the drawings are used to design slides that are projected on the facade of De Kampanje. They furthermore delved into the literature and historical images about the fishing industry in Den Helder. Their research was exhibited in the library of Den Helder.
It all came complete with the outdoor performance of the choir Nieuwdiepervisserskoor, existing of nearly 100 (mostly) men, in front of the projection. The relation with the fish, the sea, a continuous flux of 'leaving and returning'; a balance of giving and taking.
Femke and Aardse didn’t foresee that fishing in Den Helder would come to an end in 2023.
Nieuwedieperviserskoor in front of the light projection
CREDITS
Artists: Machteld Aardse & Femke Kempkes
Location: Theater De Kampanje
Technique: Pronorm / Bart van Bokhoven / Remco Keepers / Remco Geerts
Fishermen / Family Bais / Henk Bais
Nieuwediepervisserskoor
Heldersche Historische Vereniging
Museumhaven Willemsoord
Residents and Municipality Den Helder / Zeestad
Photography: Andrea Röell
TECHNIQUES
3 x PANI projector BP6, 3x8 slides
LINKS
https://www.denhelder.online/zien-doen-beleven/helder-licht/meet-the-artists/machteld-aardse-en-femke-kempkes
https://www.pronorm.org/projects/helder-licht-2016/
https://www.visserijnieuws.nl/nieuws/algemeen/20402/helderse-lichtkunstroute-in-teken-van-visserij
INFO
Femke Kempkes and Machteld Aardse use site-specific material, related to the place or the building and the façade forms a medium to project the information back to the site. This is called 'performing urban memory'. The process is a mix of analogue and digital work resulting in analogue slides (18x18 cm). The art work is realised in the context of the Den Helder light route ‘Helder Licht’.
For the light projection they work with all historical archives and the Library in Den Helder. Special thanks to Museumhaven Willemsoord, Helderse Historische Vereniging, Marinemuseum, Reddingmuseum, Kunstuitleen Den Helder, Stichting Bonaire, Fort Kijkduin Huisduinen & the inhabitants.and volunteers.
